Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist in Universal Crisis Team

Go back Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust

Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist in Universal Crisis Team

Closing date: 23 July 2026

At CNTW we strive to provide the BEST CARE, delivered by the BEST PEOPLE, to achieve the BEST OUTCOME.

As a Consultant, you will lead a team to ensure best practice care is delivered and support the multidisciplinary team.

Working 10 PAs a week over 4 or 5 days alongside a multidisciplinary team, including SAS doctors, resident doctors, and wider clinical team, you will be the clinical expert from a medical perspective to ensure best practice care is delivered and support the team.

This Crisis resolution and home treatment team has been accredited with the Home Treatment Accreditation Scheme (HTAS) since June 2017. The service operates at the interface of acute psychiatry, with links to Sunderland Royal and South Tyneside General Hospitals and community mental health teams.

The base for the UCT is the Barton Centre at Hopewood Park Hospital. You will join an experienced and well‑established crisis service which provides crisis assessment and home treatment for patients experiencing acute mental health problems, including older adults with functional and organic mental illnesses who can be managed in the community with intensive mental health support, without the need for hospital admission.

Main duties of the job

You will join a skilled UCT multi-disciplinary (MDT) workforce, including 3 Consultant colleagues, 1 Speciality doctors, 1 Foundation trainee doctors, non‑medical prescribers, a pharmacist and specialist nurses. You will have your own office space and will be supported by a medical assistant and/or medical secretary.

Your role would involve:

• Provide psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and formulation to patients presenting with organic and functional mental health crises aged 65+ taken on for home‑treatment with the Sunderland & South Tyneside Crisis Team.
• Undertake Section 12 work in relation to Mental Health Act assessments for UCT patients.
• Provide (or ensure referral to the appropriate service for the provision of) up‑to‑date, evidence‑based interventions for patients under the service's care.
• Collaborate with GPs, Community Teams and primary care clinicians on follow‑up arrangements for patients assessed or treated within the service.
• Provide leadership, consultation, advice and guidance within the MDT, including for the Access and Triage components of the service.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in other specialist mental health teams and develop proactive links with the community services; particularly with a view to developing more robust pathways into appropriate follow‑up care once discharged.

About us

Benefits and opportunities:

• 30 days study leave (every 3 years)
• Flexible working opportunities created with you involved in your job plan
• Remote working available as suits service needs
• Dedicated and protected SPA time
• Focus on creating a healthy workforce by investing heavily in health and wellbeing accessible support including emotional, physical, social, psychological, financial and career well being
• Teaching and research opportunities available
• Stimulating CPD sessions and programs including mentoring, medical leadership, and coaching
• Teaching opportunities in our brand‑new state of the art Medical Education Centre
• Employee Excellence awards
• Plus, lots more employee benefits including discounts. Find out more at www.thriveatcntw.co.uk

As an added bonus, the Trust is located in the Northeast of England and Cumbria which is an area of outstanding natural beauty, containing national parks, ancient heritage sites and major cities supported by excellent national and international transport links. The area is predominantly rural and contains the Lake District National Park which is considered one of England's finest areas of natural beauty.

This is a substantive and full‑time post; however we would be happy to consider applicants available on a part‑time or fixed‑term basis.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

GMC sponsorship is not available for this role.

• MBBS (or equivalent)
• Included on GMC Specialist Register (General Psychiatry) or eligible for inclusion, or a trainee within six months of CCT.
• Approved under Section 12(2) of the Mental Health Act 1983
• Approved Clinician Status.
• MRCPsych or equivalent qualification.
• Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field
• Has undergone training in educational supervision.
• Has undergone training in appraisal.

Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge in the field of Psychiatry
• Awareness of current issues and controversies in service provision, mental health policy and legislation.
• An area of special interest relevant to the post as demonstrated by publications or presentations to learned societies.

Experience

• Experience of multidisciplinary team working
• Wide clinical experience in general adult psychiatry in different clinical settings.
• Experience of Clinical Audit.
• Experience in multi‑agency work especially with service user, carer and voluntary agencies.
• Experience in service management or development.

Skills

• High level of clinical skills.
• Able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proven competence in diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders in Adult Psychiatry.
• Excellent teaching skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in a time efficient manner.
• Established record of clinical leadership.
• Established ability as a clinical teacher.
• Training in specific and relevant treatment skills e.g. A brief form of psychological therapy.

Personal Characteristics

• Able to sustain self and support others.
• Trustworthiness.
• Able to meet the mobility requirements of the post
• Maturity, openness and flexibility.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust